the crucible
Fear is the underlying cause for all the lies told in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. When a person can set aside fear when carrying out an action, they can be considered courageous. John Proctor is the character that fits that description. Unshaken by the possible consequences, he brings out Abigail's possible motive for claiming to see Elizabeth with the devil. He makes the town aware of the fact that they had shared more than just friendly interaction. With an entire town against him, he strives to bring out the truth behind the stories of witches and devils. Even when it seems that the only hope left is to confess to working with the devil, he sacrifices his life in order to keep his dignity. John Proctor's willingness to suffer consequences set him apart from the rest of the town whose actions were controlled by their fear. He sacrifices his name and went against the word of the town, and ultimately faces death all for the fight for what he believes to be the unknown truth. At the risk of ruining his name, John Proctor reveals that Abigail's plan is to destroy Elizabeth in order to get to him. In the court of law, he pronounces his affair with the youn
g servant. "She thinks to dance on my wife's grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat" (110). Proctor, in his plea to Danforth, admits that he knows the intent behind Abigail's accusations against his wife. She wants Elizabeth dead so that she can have Proctor for herself. He admitted that, at on time she had had him. He asks for forgiveness from the court and from God because he had committed adultery. As a result, he knew hat he had ruined his name, the moment he had disclosed the truth of his and Abigail's relationship. Yet, to him it was all done as a selfless act to save the woman that he loves and the town from lies and deceit. "I have rung the doom of my good name-you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one" (111). Proctor's point was that his credibility should not be questioned, for he ruined his reputation in telling the truth. This characterizes the acts of a courageous man, unnerved by possibilities that could result. Even when he is the one man standing alone against the rest, he is undaunted. John Proctor proved countlessly, that he would not be phased by the outcome of a situation. If he felt that something needed to be done, it was to be done without looking back. In the case of Abigail, he knew that what he had done was wrong, yet he was not hesitant about admitting his crime of adultery, if it meant that his wife would have a chance at life. He was never threatened by the chance that he might be fighting alone or against the heads of the town. Even if someone was to give him death as a consequence for his actions, he would tell them to give him death, for he would not take back his acts. This all describes a man with endless courage and strength; one not intimidated
Some common words found in the essay are:
John Proctor, John Proctor's, Mary Warren, john proctor, Miller's Crucible, Justice Fear, court law, mary warren, tales told, entire town,
Approximate Word count = 1245
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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